No. 23 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 23 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force
is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley
near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II
as a bomber squadron.
s. The Squadron moved to RAAF Base Pearce
in March 1938 and was renumbered No. 25 Squadron
in January 1939. No. 23 Squadron reformed at RAAF Base Richmond
in February 1939 and was equipped with CAC Wirraway
s and Lockheed Hudson
s, began reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of New South Wales
. The Squadron moved to RAAF Station Archerfield
near Brisbane, Queensland in August 1940. Between August 1940 and June 1943 the Squadron conducted seaward patrols and escorted shipping in the Brisbane region. In May 1943 the Squadron was equipped with six P-39 Airacobra fighters.
In June 1943 No. 23 Squadron's role was changed to that of a dive bomber unit and the Squadron was reequipped with Vultee Vengeance aircraft. After a period of training the Squadron deployed to Nadzab in New Guinea
in February 1944 and flew its first bombing missions on 11 February. It provided aerial support at Saidor to American ground forces. The Squadron was withdrawn to Australia and reduced to cadre status in March 1944, as the Vengeance was regarded as inferior to other aircraft which had become available to Allied forces.
.jpg)
No. 23 Squadron returned to operational status as a heavy bomber squadron in October 1944 after being reequipped with B-24 Liberator
bombers. The Squadron deployed to Long Airfield
in the Northern Territory
in April 1945 and conducted bombing and anti-shipping missions over the Netherlands East Indies until the end of the war. Following the Japanese surrender the Squadron's B-24s were based at Balikpapan
in Borneo
and operated in the transport role, flying ex-Prisoners of War and other Australian personnel back to Australia. No. 23 Squadron returned to Australia in November 1945 and was based at RAAF Station Tocumwal until early 1948 when it moved to RAAF Base Amberley
and was redesignated No. 6 Squadron
.
No. 23 Squadron was reformed at Archerfield on 1 April 1948 as a Citizen Air Force squadron equipped with fighter and training aircraft. The Squadron ceased flying activities in June 1960 and assumed a ground training role for members of the RAAF reserve in southern Queensland
.
On 1 July 2010 changes to the structure of the Combat Support Group resulted in the combat support
functions of No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron
(382ECSS) being integrated with No. 23 Squadron
at RAAF Amberley
and 382ECSS being disbanded.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a bomber squadron.
History
No. 23 Squadron was first formed on 3 May 1937 at RAAF Base Laverton as a Citizen Air Force unit equipped with Avro AnsonAvro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s. The Squadron moved to RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
in March 1938 and was renumbered No. 25 Squadron
No. 25 Squadron RAAF
No. 25 Squadron is a general reserve squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. The squadron is based at RAAF Base Pearce in Perth, Western Australia and forms part of the Combat Reserve Wing. The squadron has been based at Pearce since 1938. 25 Squadron was originally formed at RAAF Base...
in January 1939. No. 23 Squadron reformed at RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond is one of Australia's oldest and largest air force bases. It is located within the City of Hawkesbury in the north-western fringe of Sydney, New South Wales, between the towns of Windsor and Richmond. The base is home to the Royal Australian Air Force's transport headquarters,...
in February 1939 and was equipped with CAC Wirraway
CAC Wirraway
The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
s and Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
s, began reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The Squadron moved to RAAF Station Archerfield
RAAF Station Archerfield
RAAF Station Archerfield was a permanent Royal Australian Air Force station at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from 1939 to 1956.- 1939 - 1945 :...
near Brisbane, Queensland in August 1940. Between August 1940 and June 1943 the Squadron conducted seaward patrols and escorted shipping in the Brisbane region. In May 1943 the Squadron was equipped with six P-39 Airacobra fighters.
In June 1943 No. 23 Squadron's role was changed to that of a dive bomber unit and the Squadron was reequipped with Vultee Vengeance aircraft. After a period of training the Squadron deployed to Nadzab in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
in February 1944 and flew its first bombing missions on 11 February. It provided aerial support at Saidor to American ground forces. The Squadron was withdrawn to Australia and reduced to cadre status in March 1944, as the Vengeance was regarded as inferior to other aircraft which had become available to Allied forces.
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
bombers. The Squadron deployed to Long Airfield
Long Airfield
Long Airfield is a World War II military airfield located near Hayes Creek, Northern Territory, Australia.Also known as "Long Strip", the airfield was constructed in late 1943 by No.14 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF. The bitumen surfaced runway was long and wide...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
in April 1945 and conducted bombing and anti-shipping missions over the Netherlands East Indies until the end of the war. Following the Japanese surrender the Squadron's B-24s were based at Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
and operated in the transport role, flying ex-Prisoners of War and other Australian personnel back to Australia. No. 23 Squadron returned to Australia in November 1945 and was based at RAAF Station Tocumwal until early 1948 when it moved to RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
and was redesignated No. 6 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron RAAF
No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron. The squadron was first formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. It was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939...
.
No. 23 Squadron was reformed at Archerfield on 1 April 1948 as a Citizen Air Force squadron equipped with fighter and training aircraft. The Squadron ceased flying activities in June 1960 and assumed a ground training role for members of the RAAF reserve in southern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
On 1 July 2010 changes to the structure of the Combat Support Group resulted in the combat support
Combat support
In the United States Army, the term combat support refers to units that provide fire support and operational assistance to combat elements. Combat support units provide specialized support functions to combat units in the areas of chemical warfare, combat engineering, intelligence, security, and...
functions of No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron
No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF
The No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force combat support squadron established in 1998, and based at the RAAF Base Amberley, southwest of Ipswich, Queensland. It is a fully deployable unit which provides operational support to a forward operating base...
(382ECSS) being integrated with No. 23 Squadron
No. 23 Squadron RAAF
No. 23 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II as a bomber squadron.-History:No...
at RAAF Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
and 382ECSS being disbanded.
Aircraft operated
- Hawker Demon (May 1938 – January 1939)
- Avro CadetAvro Cadet|-See also:-External links:**...
(May 1938 – January 1939) - Avro AnsonAvro AnsonThe Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
(February 1940 – August 1940) - CAC WirrawayCAC WirrawayThe Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
(August 1940 – June 1943 and April 1948 – 1959) - Lockheed HudsonLockheed HudsonThe Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
(August 1940 – July 1942?) - P-39 Airacobra (July? 1942 – June 1943?)
- Vultee Vengeance (June 1943 – July 1944?)
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator (October 1944? – February 1948)
- P-51 D MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(April 1948 – September 1955) - de Havilland Tiger MothDe Havilland Tiger MothThe de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
(April 1948 – September 1955) - de Havilland VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
(September 1955 – ?) - Gloster MeteorGloster MeteorThe Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
(October 1956 – June 1960)